Runout detector



June 23, 1953 J.'O. HAMILTQN 2,643,306 RUNOUT DETECTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J. 0. HAMILTON A T TOR/V5, V

J. o. HAMILTON RUNOUT DETECTOR June 23, 1953 Filed Feb. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 2 A7'70RNEY Patented June 23, 1953 RUNOUT DETECTOR James 0. Hamilton, Dundalk, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 28, 1950, Serial No. 146,738

4 Claims.

This invention relates to runout detectors, and more particularly to runout detectors for apparatus having means for winding a plurality of filaments on a reel.

In the operation of machines for winding a plurality of filaments on a reel, the filaments usually are advanced individually from their respective supply spools to a takeup device. It has been the practice in such machines to provide a plurality of runout detectors, one for each filament being wound on the reel for stopping the machine when any one of the filaments breaks or its sup ply is exhausted. This multiplicity of identical runout detectors complicates the installation of runout detectors on such machines.

An object of this invention is to provide new and improved runout detectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved runout detectors for apparatus having means for winding a plurality of filaments on a reel.

A runout detector embodying certain features of the invention, as applied to apparatus having means for advancing a plurality of filaments along predetermined paths, comprises means including a sensitive switch for controlling the operation of the filament-advancing means, a plurality of individually slidable members, one for each filament, resilient means for urging the members in a given direction, one end of each of said members being designed to be engaged by one of the filaments so that they are held thereby in a given position against the action of their resilient means, and means operable by movement of any one of the members for actuating the switch to stop the filament-advancing means, whereby when any one of the filaments is disengaged from its respective member the advancement of the filaments is terminated.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, top plan view of a portion or" a filament-rewinding apparatus provided with a runout detector embodying certain features of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, side elevation of the runout detector shown in Fig. l with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the construction thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l a portion of a filament rewinding apparatus designed to advance a plurality of filaments l--l0 from their respective individual supply spools ll-ll and wrap them around a takeup reel 13. The filaments may be textile threads, various types of plastic threads, or steel wires intended to be grouped together so that they may be applied around an electrical conductor by various types of apparatus to form a protective covering on the conductor. The filaments I 0-l0 are drawn from their individual supply spools Il-ll and pass around sheaves l2--l2 and over sheaves l4l4 and l5--l5 rotatably mounted at opposite ends of a support l6. One sheave I4 and one sheave l5 are provided for each of the filaments I0l0, and the sheaves I4--l 4 and l5l5 are mounted at the same level.

As the filaments |0l0 leave the sheaves i5l5, they are brought together as they pass around a portion of a sheave l1 rotatably mounted on an arm l8 slidably positioned on parallel guide bars 20-20 and are taken up on the reel 13. The reel I3 is positioned on a shaft 23 which is suitably journalled in a support 24 and coupled to a motor 20. The motor 26 is arranged to rotate the reel l3 at a predetermined rate of speed, and to drive a suitable distributing mechanism (not shown) provided for traversing the arm 13 so that the sheave l'l distributes the filaments evenly across the winding surface of the reel.

To prevent an imperfect winding of the filaments |0l0 on the reel [3, there is provided a runout detector 28 for stopping the motor 26 when one of the filaments l0-l0 breaks or the supply thereof becomes exhausted. The runout detector 28 includes a plurality of plungers 2929, one for each of the filaments l0-l0, which comprise sheaves 3030 mounted on brackets 3l3l secured to the upper ends of rods 32-32. Each rod 32 is positioned slidably in a bushing 35 threadedly mounted in a base 38 secured to the support I5 between the sheaves I i-l l and I5-i 5. Hardened steel knobs 40-40 adjustably secured on the opposite ends of the rods 32-32 slidably engage bores 41-4! provided in the base 38 and bores 42-42 provided in the suport l6.

Compression springs 43-43 mounted on the rods 32-32 between the knobs and the bushings urge the sheaves 35-30 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, against the portions of the filaments l5-l0 advancing over the sheaves l4-l4 and 15-45. The strength of the springs 43-43 is such that the normal tension in the filaments is suificient to hold the knobs 4040 of the plungers away from an arm 45 pivotally mounted on the support 65 by a pin 41. The free end of the arm 45 rests on a roller provided on the end of a spring-pressed operating arm 5| of a sensitive switch 52. The switch 52 is secured on the support [5 in a position in which the arm 51 of the switch tends to hold the arm 45 in a substantially horizontal position and in close proximity to the ends of the knobs 40-40. The sensitive switch 52 is connected electrically to close a control circuit (not shown) of the motor 26 when it is in its normal position, and the actuation of the arm 45 and the arm 5! to their brokenline positions actuates the switch to disconnect the motor from its source of power and thereby top of the filaments Ill-46.

Operation The filaments 18-46 are threaded over the sheaves 14-44 and !5l 5, and over the sheave l'i provided on the traversing arm l8 and the ends thereof are secured to the takeup reel 13. The plungers 23-29 of the detector 28 are raised so that their respective sheaves ,30'3I] rest on When the motor 26 is energized to rotate the .reel and take up the filaments, there is suificient tension .in the filamerits between their individual supply spools ll-ll and the takeup reel .13 to hold the plungers in their-uppermostposition against the action of their respective springs 43- 43. This tension in the filamentskeeps the knobsdfl-Mi of the plungers 29-29 .insuch positions that the arm 55 remains horizontal andthe switch 52 remains in its normal operating position.

When the tension in any one of the filaments decreases due to breaking, exhaustion of the sup- ,ply thereof or any other cause, the plunger 29 operating on-that filamentv is urged downwardly by its respective spring 43. The corresponding .movement of its-knob All-turns the arm 45,-and

winding? art;

ltyhatisclaimedis:

-.1. Inepparatus foradvancing .aiplurality of spaced filaments-along predetermined paths, a runout detector which comprises a base having plurality of-spacedvertical, bores formed therein, a plurality of individually movableplungers slidably mounted in said bores, resilient means for urging theplungers in one direction, means provided onone-end-of each of said plungers for engaging oneof said filaments whereby the filamerits normally support the plungers' against the action of their respective resilient means,- a normally closed switch for controlling the continuity of an electric circuit, and means actuated by the movement iof any, one of the plungers whenits supportingfilamentbreaks to open therswitch so as to interrupt'the circuit.

2. Infapparatusfor advancing a plurality of spacednfilaments along predetermined paths: a

runoutdetecterwhich comprises a .base having aplurality oispaced vertical bores formed therein, apluralityof individually movable plungers slidably mounted in said bores, resilient means for urging. the ,plungers downwardly,- a sheave mounted on the :upperend of. each of said plungers .under which a. filament advances, the ,fila- .ments noimallysupporting the plungers ainst the action of their respective resilient means, an actuator movably secured to the base and positioned so as to be moved by the downward movement of any one of the plungers when its supporting filament breaks, and a normally closed switch for controlling the continuity of an electric circuit, said switch being positioned so as to be engaged- .by the actuator whereby the switch is opened when any one of the filaments breaks.

3. In apparatus for advancing a plurality of spaced filamentary strands along predetermined paths, a runout detector which comprises a base designed to be positioned beneath the strands and having a plurality of spaced vertical bores extending therethrough and aligned with the strands, a plurality of plungers mounted slidably in said bores one plunger being provided for each bore, resilient means" mounted on each plunger for urging the plungers downwardly, 'meansmounted on the upper end of each plunger for engaging its adjacent filament whereby the filaments normally support the plungers against the action of their respective resilient means, a normally closed sensitive switch for controlling the continuity of an electric'circu'it, and a pivotally mounted arm movable to open-the switch by downwardmovement of any one of the plungers when its associated filament breaks or the supply thereof is exhausted.

4. In apparatus for advancing a plurality of spaced filaments along predetermined paths, a runout detector which comprises a base having a plurality of spaced vertical bores extending therethrough in alignment with the filaments, a plurality of plungers mounted slidably in the bores providedin the base, resilient means positioned in each bore for urging the plungers downwardly, a sheave mounted on the upper end of each plun er and designed to rest on the 'fila ments and normally to support the plungers against the action of their respective resilient means, means for adjusting the force exerted on the plungersby the resilient means, a sensitive switch electrically connected to control the continuity of an electrical circuit, aspiring-biased, pivotallymounted lever'for operating the switch, said lever being normally urged into a position wherein the switch is closedand an actuator plate movably secured to the'base and normally supported in a generally horizontal position by the spring-biased lever, said platebeing positioned beneath the plungers so as to be moved by the downward movement of any one of the plungers when its supporting strand breaks whereby the spring-biased lever is pivoted to actuate the switch to open the electrical circuit.

JAMES o. I-IAMILTQN.

'References-Cited in theme of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 755,303 :Wardwell ,l Apr. 5, 1904 1,627,292 Matthews, et a1. May 3,192? 2,148,665 Wolfe Feb. 28, 1939 12,249,988 Thomas July 22, 1941 2,313,638 Granditz Mar. 9, 1943 2,357,675 McCord Sept. 5, 1944 2,419,518 Eichinger Apr. 22, 1947 12,452,223 Cady'et a1. Oct. 26, 1948 12,487,187 'Seifried et al., m. 8,1949

FOREIGN PATENTS N umber Country Date 

